Native plant landscaping is a great way to create a low-maintenance garden that is friendly to wildlife. Native plants require less water, fertilizer, and upkeep than non-native plants because they are well-adapted to the local climate and soil. In addition, they serve as shelter, nesting, and breeding grounds, as well as a significant source of food for wildlife in the area. We will discuss how to landscape with native plants, focusing on those native to Utah County, Utah, in this blog post.

When landscaping with native plants, the kind of soil in your area should be one of the first things you think about. There are many different kinds of soil in Utah County, ranging from sandy soils in the west to clay soils in the east. It is essential to select plants that are well-suited to the type of soil in your particular location. Serviceberry, chokecherry, and wild roses, for instance, thrive in clay soils.

The amount of sunlight that reaches your garden is yet another important consideration. Some native plants, like goldenrod, penstemon, and yarrow, like full sun, while others, like chokecherry, wild rose, and serviceberry, like partial shade. It is essential to select plants that can thrive in your garden's amount of sunlight.

In Utah County, there are a lot of native options from which to choose specific plants. Some popular choices are:

Amelanchier alnifolia, or serviceberry: White flowers in the spring and red berries in the summer are produced by this large shrub or small tree. It prefers soils with good drainage and partial shade.

Prunus virginiana chokecherry: White flowers in the spring and dark purple berries in the summer are produced by this large shrub or small tree. It prefers soils with good drainage and full sun.

Rosa spp. (wild rose): Hips and pink or white flowers in the spring and fall are produced by this robust deciduous shrub. It prefers soils with good drainage and full sun.

Penstemon, various species: In the spring and summer, this perennial produces spikes of brightly colored flowers. It prefers soils with good drainage and full sun.

Achillea millefolium yarrow: In the summer, this perennial produces clumps of yellow or white flowers. It prefers soils with good drainage and full sun.

Solidago spp. goldenrod: In the fall, this perennial produces spikes of yellow flowers. It prefers soils with good drainage and full sun.

Good gardening practices like adding compost to the soil to add nutrients and control weeds, mulching to keep moisture in the soil and water sparingly, and planting native plants are essential. Be patient and give your plants time to settle in is another important quality. While it may take native plants longer to establish themselves than non-native plants, once they do, they will require less water, fertilizer, and upkeep.

Another advantage of landscaping with native plants is that they provide local wildlife with important food and habitat. For instance, the wild rose provides shelter and nesting sites for a variety of insects, while the chokecherry and serviceberry provide birds with valuable food sources. Bees, butterflies, and other pollinators depend on goldenrod and yarrow for nectar.

In conclusion, landscaping a garden with native plants is a great way to make it easy on the environment and good for wildlife. You can cut down on the amount of water, fertilizer, and upkeep required for your plants if you select varieties that are well-suited to the climate and soil conditions of the area. Reach out to us today to see how adding this plants to your landscape will beautiful your yard.